Throughout the day the Village Hall hosts a café run by mmm… deli. The book fair is spread over the Village Hall, a marquee behind the hall, and assorted gazebos. It features
publishers, charities, book trade organisations, booksellers with new and second-hand books, and cards. Free author talks and talks about books will go on throughout the day.

Talks include: Michael Eaton on Charlie Peace, James Wright on historic graffiti, Eleanor Morgan on spiders, Martyn Bennett on Oliver Cromwell, Trish Nicholson on storytelling, Deirdre O’Byrne on Jane Austen and masculinity,  and there will be readings from Henry Normal, Mahsuda Snaith, Anthony Cartwright, Peter Bland, Rennie Parker, Deborah Tyler-Bennett.

The children’s tent will feature storytelling and music on the theme of fairy tales.

Entry is FREE to the book fair and all events. No tickets required. More information about Lowdham Book Festival here…

In 1966, the Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti, then 22, left his home in Ramallah to return to university in Cairo. The Six-Day War prevented him returning to his homeland for 30 years. This book is his account of his homecoming to a city changed beyond recognition, and his journey through the Occupation-scarred city, revisiting his home, familiar haunts, and family. He must come to terms with his years of exile and his permanent homeless status.

Does “this eloquent, incisive book [make] you want to quote large chunks of it”? Is it “a book that sheds light on Palestine, and … an insight into the lives of people denied a home”? Does it “do more to raise sympathy for the Palestinian cause than a thousand suicide bombs”?

Free, refreshments provided. Please let us know if you’re coming.

NOTE EARLIER START TIME

Rich Goodson’s debut chapbook Mr Universe is out in June 2017 from Eyewear.

​His work’s been described by George Szirtes as: “convincing and compulsive, original, adroit and dramatically exciting.”

In Mr Universe you’ll find his poem ‘Pine’ which won the Stonewood Prize in the Aurora Writing Competition 2016 (judged by Pascale Petit). You’ll also find ‘Daniel Craig: The Screensaver’ which was quoted in The Observer newspaper and is anthologised in The Poetry Of Sex (Penguin) and others which have appeared in print magazines such as The Interpreter’s House and Under The Radar.

Rich is joined by fellow poets Maria Taylor (Melanchrini, Nine Arches) and Roy Marshall (The Sun Bathers, Shoestring).

Free, refreshments provided. Please let us know you’re coming.

Joanne Limburg will be in conversation with independent publisher Ross Bradshaw of Five Leaves and reading from The Autistic Alice (Bloodaxe), her latest collection which examines her own experience of autism and the loss by suicide of her brother.

 Joanne has published poetry, fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children. Her memoir, The Woman Who Thought Too Much, explored her experience of OCD and anxiety. She has recently completed a PhD in Creative Writing at Kingston University, on the subject of sibling suicide loss. Her creative project Small Pieces: A Book of Lamentations will be published by Atlantic Books this July.

£8 / £6
Booking advised
Adults. 16+ (Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult)

Nottingham exile Peter Mortimer writes extreme travel books (Yemen, anybody?) but here he takes to the road armed only with a chess set, challenging random strangers to a game.

At 6.00 we’ll get out a bunch of chess sets for some random games with Peter and others. Whatever your ability…

At 7.15 Peter will talk about being a “chess traveller” and his meetings with people on his assorted travels in mundane and exciting places.

Entry: £3 including refreshements.

You can attend both parts of the event or the second one only, but let us know you are coming on fiveleaves.bookshopevents@gmail.com.

Everybody knows of the Green Belt, but it doesn’t appear on maps, it is not signposted. The Green Belt – whose aim was to stop urban spread – has been and is becoming more of a political battle ground fought over by developers, environmentalists, politicians and farmers.

Where did the idea come from? What do people do there (golfing and dogging is only the start).  Popular architectural writer John Grindrod grew up on the edge of the Green Belt near Croydon. His brother developed agrophobia in that great expanse. This is at once a talk on social history and the place where the natural world meets the built environment.

In association with The Twentieth Century Society (East Midlands)

Entry £3 including refreshments

Please let us know you are coming on fiveleaves.bookshopevents@gmail.com

Venue and Costs tbc

Paul Robeson was a famous actor, singer and civil rights campaigner. Over the years he got progressively too radical and outspoken for the establishment’s liking, he was branded a traitor to his country, harassed, and denied opportunities to perform or travel.

Just as physical, emotional and mental stress threatened to push him over the fine line between genius and madness, he was summoned to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee, to give the most difficult and important performance of his career.

This journey through Robeson’s remarkable life highlights how his pioneering and heroic (but largely forgotten) political activism led many to describe him as the forerunner of the civil rights movement.

This show features much fiery oratory and some of his famous songs, including a dramatic rendition of Ol’ Man River.

Venue: Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross

Tickets: £10/£8.00 from Five Leaves Bookshop

Further Details to be announced